Apparatus for securing a computer mouse support pad to a member

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an apparatus for securing a mouse support pad to a predetermined member. The apparatus comprises a vertical member having a predetermined size and shape. The vertical member has a first end and a second end. There is a slot disposed within the vertical member closely adjacent the first end of the vertical member. The slot has a predetermined width. There is a securement device disposed on the first end of the vertical member for securing the vertical member to such predetermined member and a means for securing the mouse support pad to the second end of the vertical member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The invention taught in this patent application is closelyrelated to the invention taught in the following co-pending U.S.Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/267,263 and was filed onFeb. 9, 2001. All the teachings therein are incorporated into thisapplication by reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates, in general, to a computer mousesupport pad, and more particularly, the present invention relates to anapparatus for securing a computer mouse support pad to a member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Various studies and tests have shown that placing the computermouse at a predetermined level above the computer keyboard minimizesshoulder and wrist muscle strain. Although various designs for keyboardplatforms with integrated mouse support pads currently exist, there aremany keyboard platforms without this feature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention provides an apparatus for securing a mousesupport pad to a predetermined member. The apparatus comprises avertical member having a predetermined size and shape. The verticalmember has a first end and a second end. There is a slot disposed withinthe vertical member closely adjacent the first end of the verticalmember. The slot has a predetermined width.

[0005] There is a securement device disposed on the first end of thevertical member for securing the vertical member to such predeterminedmember and a means for securing the mouse support pad to the second endof the vertical member.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the invention toprovide a support pad for a computer mouse that is elevated so as tominimize shoulder and wrist muscle strain.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide an elevatedmouse support pad that could be tilted.

[0008] Still another object of the present invention is to provide asupport pad for a computer mouse that is easily attached to a keyboardplatform or a desk top.

[0009] These and various other objects and advantages of this inventionwill become apparent after a full reading of the following detaileddescription, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attacheddrawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0012]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an application of the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTSOF THE INVENTION

[0013] Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of thepresent invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity,identical components which have identical functions have been designatedby identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustratedin the drawings.

[0014] Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an apparatus, generallydesignates 10, for securing a computer mouse support pad 2 to apredetermined member 4. Such predetermined member 4 may be any one of avariety of supports; however, the most common being a computer keyboardplatform and a desk top.

[0015] The apparatus 10 comprises a vertical member 6 which has apredetermined size and shape. The vertical member has a first end 8 anda second end 12. The vertical member 6 further has a slot 14 disposed inthe vertical member 10 intermediate the first end 8 and the second end12 but is closely adjacent the first end 8. In a preferred embodiment ofthe invention such slot is disposed between 0.25 and 0.50 inches fromthe first end. The slot 14 is designed to slide over such keyboardplatform 4 (or other predetermined member) so the width of the slot 14must be sufficient to slide over such predetermined member 4 whether itbe a desk top or a keyboard platform.

[0016] The apparatus further includes a securement device, generallydesignated 20. Such securement device 20 is disposed on the first end 8of vertical member 6. In a preferred embodiment of the invention suchsecurement device 20 includes a bolt 16. A first end of bolt 16 isthreadably attached to the first end 8 of vertical member 6. Further, itis preferred that the second end of such bolt 16 have a 3-star knob 18for ease in turning the bolt so to secure the apparatus 10 to suchpredetermined member 4. As the bolt is threaded through such first end 8of the vertical member 6, the first end of the bolt enters into the slot14 and makes contact with the predetermined member 4 and secures theapparatus 10 to such predetermined member 4.

[0017] The apparatus 10 further includes a mouse support pad 2 which isattached to the second end 12 of such vertical member 6. There is also ameans, generally designated 30, for securing such mouse support pad 2 tosuch vertical member 6. In a presently preferred embodiment of thepresent invention such means 30 is a capscrew 22. A spacer 12 may alsobe included on such vertical member 6.

[0018] As is evident in FIG. 2 such mouse support pad 2 can be tilted orused parallel to the keyboard platform 4 by simply changing the way thatthe keyboard platform 4 is mounted in such slot 14. Slot 14 has a ledgeportion 24 which when used causes the apparatus to be tilted and whennot used as is seen in FIG. 1 such mouse support pad 2 is parallel tothe keyboard platform or desk 4.

[0019] Reference is now made to FIG. 3 which simply shows the apparatus10 as it would be used in actual operation as it attached to a computerkeyboard platform 4 with a mouse support pad 2 on the second end of suchvertical member 6.

[0020] While both the presently preferred and a number of alternativeembodiments of the present invention have been described in detail aboveit should be understood that various other adaptations and modificationsof the present invention can be envisioned by those persons who areskilled in the relevant art without departing from either the spirit ofthe invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for securing a mouse support pad to apredetermined member, said apparatus comprising: (a) a vertical memberhaving a predetermined size and shape, said vertical member having afirst end and a second end; (b) a slot disposed within said verticalmember intermediate said first end and said second end of said verticalmember, said slot having a predetermined width; (c) a securement devicedisposed on said first end of said vertical member for securing saidvertical member to such predetermined member; and (d) a means forsecuring such mouse support pad to said second end of said verticalmember.
 2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said securementdevice includes a bolt.
 3. The apparatus, according to claim 2, whereina first end of said bolt is threadably attached to said first end ofsaid vertical member.
 4. The apparatus, according to claim 2, whereinsaid bolt enters said slot when said first end of said bolt is threadedthrough said first end of said vertical member.
 5. The apparatus,according to claim 2, wherein a second end of said bolt further includesa three star knob for turning said bolt.
 6. The apparatus, according toclaim 1, wherein said predetermined width of said slot is sufficient toslide onto one of a computer keyboard platform and a desktop.
 7. Theapparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said means for securing suchmouse support pad to said vertical member is a capscrew.
 8. Theapparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said slot has a ledge disposedin said slot.
 9. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said slotis disposed between 0.25 inches and 0.5 inches from said first end. 10.In combination with a mouse support pad, an apparatus for securing saidmouse support pad to a predetermined member, said apparatus comprising:(a) a vertical member having a predetermined size and shape, saidvertical member having a first end and a second end; (b) a slot disposedwithin said vertical member intermediate said first end and said secondend of said vertical member, said slot having a predetermined width; (c)a securement device disposed on said first end of said vertical memberfor securing said vertical member to such predetermined member; and (d)a means for securing said mouse support pad to said second end of saidvertical member.
 11. The combination, according to claim 10, whereinsaid mouse support pad is a solid platform made of plastic.
 12. Thecombination, according to claim 11, wherein said plastic is a phenolicresin.
 13. The combination, according to claim 10, wherein saidsecurement device includes a bolt.
 14. The combination, according toclaim 13, wherein a first end of said bolt is threadably attached tosaid first end of said vertical member.
 15. The combination, accordingto claim 13, wherein said bolt enters said slot when said first end ofsaid bolt is threaded through said first end of said vertical member.16. The combination, according to claim 13, wherein a second end of saidbolt further includes a three star knob for turning said bolt.
 17. Thecombination, according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined width ofsaid slot is sufficient to slide onto one of a computer keyboardplatform and a desktop.
 18. The combination, according to claim 10,wherein said means for securing said mouse support pad to said verticalmember is a capscrew.
 19. The combination, according to claim 10,wherein said slot is disposed between 0.25 inches and 0.5 inches fromsaid first end.